What type of glazing to choose?
In the building and home extension sector, there are a large number of conservatory glazing options that are used to varying degrees for insulation, aesthetic or safety reasons.
Good glazing to insulate your conservatory
Choice of glazing
The bay window of a conservatory is, of course, what gives it its charm. Brightness, a feeling of space, openness to the outside... These are just some of the advantages that appeal to private individuals and professionals alike. But to ensure the protection, insulation and aesthetic appeal of this new room, you need to choose the right glass for your conservatory.
Thermal insulation
From a thermal insulation point of view, the first type of insulating glazing was double glazing. This consists of two sheets of glass separated by a hermetic space also known as the ‘air space’. Another improvement consists of replacing the air with gases that have both a lower thermal conductivity and a higher density in order to limit convection. In practice, argon is regularly used.
Performance
The development of techniques for depositing coatings on conservatory glazing has made it possible to take a decisive step forward in the thermal insulation quality of glazing. By applying a metallic coating to the glazing, you obtain what is known as low-emissivity glazing, with enhanced thermal insulation. This means that the glass in your conservatory is perfectly insulated, allowing you to enjoy your room in both summer and winter.
The bay window of a conservatory: an aesthetic asset for a house
From an aesthetic point of view, conservatory glazing offers a multitude of possibilities. This house extension can be designed with a wide variety of glass types. Glazing can be :
- clear, which is the most common choice when designing a conservatory
- printed, with a design on one or both sides
- matt, partially or completely
- sandblasted, with uniform or multi-relief patterns
It can also be decorated with wood or aluminium hangers in the same colour as the conservatory, for example, integrated into the glazing.
In terms of safety, the following issues may arise: protection of people against the risk of injury, protection of property and security against burglary.
Only 2 types of conservatory glazing meet the above requirements: thermally toughened glass and laminated glass.
Tempered glass is glass that has been heated in an oven and then cooled. This increases its resistance to shocks and temperature variations. It also has a safety advantage: if it does break, it will only shatter into tiny pieces, making it less dangerous.
Laminated glass is an assembly of two sheets of glass with a number of PVB (polyvinyl butyral) films between them, which are burglar-resistant.
Now it's up to you to choose the type of conservatory glass that will let the light into your home in complete safety.
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